S.A. Archbishop in Rome for synod on evangelization

Updated 11:35 pm, Thursday, October 4, 2012

Photo: Kin Man Hui, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller speaks to congregants at a Mass at San Fernando Cathedral on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. Archbishop Garcia-Siller presided over the ceremony that marked the 25th anniversary of the visit to San Antonio by Pope John Paul, II. less

Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller speaks to congregants at a Mass at San Fernando Cathedral on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. Archbishop Garcia-Siller presided over the ceremony that marked the 25th anniversary of ... more

Photo: Kin Man Hui, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

S.A. Archbishop in Rome for synod on evangelization

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Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio will be among four U.S. bishops at the Synod on the New Evangelization, a global gathering at the Vatican called by Pope Benedict XVI that begins Sunday.

García-Siller, already in Rome, will be there until Oct. 28, said Pat Rodgers, archdiocese director of communication. The archbishop was elected by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to attend the gathering with Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., and Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz.

Rodgers said the synod, or meeting of bishops, will focus on new ways to evangelize.

“The pope wants recommendations as to how to communicate the gospel in today's contemporary culture,” Rodgers said. That includes how to convey the message in print and social media, “but it also means how we carry that message to people whose faith has gone lukewarm or entirely cold.”

While in Rome, García-Siller will miss the archdiocese's initial observance of “A Year of Faith,” a Mass at 7 p.m. Thursday at San Fernando Cathedral. Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú will serve in García-Siller's stead, Rodgers said.

García-Siller will report on the synod from Rome via Catholic Television of San Antonio, Guadalupe Radio, the archdiocesan web page and his new web page, www.archsa.org/shepherd, which will be established this weekend, officials said.